Animal trap

Abstract

An animal trap having an enclosure body, a restraint, and a latching and triggering mechanism is provided. A method of using this animal trap is also provided.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An animal trap comprising:
 an enclosure body having a top, a first side, a second side, a bottom, and a wall defining an interior; 
 a set dog having an upper end and a lower end, the set dog being adjacent to the first side of the enclosure body, the set dog having a latch adjacent the top of the enclosure body, the latch being defined by an outer member and an inner portion, the outer member extending further in a downward direction than the inner portion; 
 a trigger extending into the interior of the enclosure body, the trigger having an end adjacent the set dog and capable of engaging and moving the set dog; 
 a setting member comprising a setting plate sized and shaped for contact and movement by a human hand and having an end edge portion configured to engage and disengage with the latch of the set dog, and connected to a restraint having an engagement portion which is located in the interior of the enclosure body, the setting member being rotatable about an axis adjacent the bottom of the enclosure body, the axis being stationary with respect to the enclosure body throughout a range of rotation of the setting member about the axis; 
 a first biasing member which biases a portion of the setting member away from the enclosure body and biases the engagement portion of the restraint toward the first side of the enclosure body, the trigger capable of being moved in a first direction and in a second direction, and when the trigger is moved in either one of the first direction or the second direction, the trigger engages the set dog and causes the set dog to move and to release the setting plate from the latch; and 
 a second biasing member which biases the leg of the set dog toward the enclosure body. 
 
     
     
       2. An animal trap comprising:
 an enclosure body having an enclosure longitudinal axis, a first side and a second side, and at least one wall, the at least one wall having at least one upper aperture and at least one lower aperture therein; 
 a set dog connected to the enclosure body adjacent the first side of the enclosure body, the set dog having a latch portion and a leg connected to the latch portion, the leg having a leg longitudinal axis, the leg being capable of being positioned such that the leg longitudinal axis is substantially parallel to the enclosure longitudinal axis; 
 a trigger having a first end and a second end, the first end disposed adjacent the at least one lower aperture and the leg of the set dog for engagement therewith, the second end disposed inside the enclosure body and movable in at least one firing direction; 
 a setting member configured to engage the latch portion of the set dog and being capable of disengaging from the latch portion of the set dog; 
 a restraint extending through the at least one upper aperture of the at least one wall of the enclosure body and having an engagement portion inside the enclosure body, the restraint being connected to the setting member; and 
 a first biasing member which biases a portion of the setting member away from the enclosure body and biases the engagement portion of the restraint toward the first side of the enclosure body; and 
 a second biasing member which biases the leg of the set dog toward the enclosure body, 
 the trigger engaging and moving the leg of the set dog away from the enclosure body to cause disengagement of the setting member from the latch portion of the set dog when the second end of the trigger is moved an effectual disengagement distance in the at least one firing direction. 
 
     
     
       3. An animal trap comprising:
 an enclosure body having an enclosure longitudinal axis defining an enclosure longitudinal direction, a first side and a second side, and at least one wall, the at least one wall having at least one upper aperture and at least one lower aperture therein, the enclosure body having an enclosure first end and an enclosure second end in the enclosure longitudinal direction, the enclosure having an opening at the enclosure first end; 
 a set dog pivotally connected to the enclosure body adjacent the first side of the enclosure body and adjacent the enclosure first end, the set dog having a first set dog end adjacent the enclosure first end and a second set dog end opposite the first set dog end, the set dog also having a latch portion adjacent the set dog first end and a leg connected to the latch portion, the leg having a leg longitudinal axis, the leg being capable of being positioned such that the leg longitudinal axis is substantially parallel to the enclosure longitudinal axis; 
 a trigger having a trigger first end and a trigger second end, the trigger first end disposed adjacent the at least one lower aperture and the leg of the set dog for moving the set dog by engagement therewith, the trigger second end disposed inside the enclosure body and movable in at least two firing directions; 
 a setting member configured to engage the latch portion of the set dog and being capable of disengaging from the latch portion of the set dog; 
 a restraint extending through the at least one upper aperture in the at least one wall of the enclosure body and having an engagement portion inside the enclosure body, the restraint being connected to the setting member; 
 a first biasing member which biases a portion of the setting member away from the enclosure body and biases the engagement portion of the restraint toward the first side of the enclosure body; and a second biasing member which biases the leg of the set dog toward the enclosure body, 
 the trigger engaging and moving a portion of the leg adjacent the second set dog end away from the enclosure body to cause disengagement of the setting member from the latch portion of the set dog when the second end of the trigger is moved an effectual disengagement distance in one of the at least two firing directions, the leg of the set dog extending between the setting member and the enclosure body. 
 
     
     
       4. An animal trap comprising:
 an enclosure body having an enclosure longitudinal axis defining an enclosure longitudinal direction, a first side and a second side, and at least one wall, the at least one wall having at least one upper aperture and at least one lower aperture therein, the enclosure body having an enclosure first end and an enclosure second end in the enclosure longitudinal direction, the enclosure having an opening at the enclosure first end; 
 a set dog pivotally connected to the enclosure body adjacent the first side of the enclosure body and adjacent the enclosure first end, the set dog having a first set dog end adjacent the enclosure first end and a second set dog end opposite the first set dog end, the set dog also having a latch portion adjacent the set dog first end and a leg connected to the latch portion, the leg having a leg longitudinal axis, the leg being capable of being positioned such that the leg longitudinal axis is substantially parallel to the enclosure longitudinal axis; 
 a trigger having a trigger first end and a trigger second end, the trigger first end disposed adjacent the at least one lower aperture and the leg of the set dog for moving the set dog by engagement therewith, the trigger second end disposed inside the enclosure body and movable in at least two firing directions; 
 a setting member configured to engage the latch portion of the set dog and being capable of disengaging from the latch portion of the set dog; 
 a restraint extending through the at least one upper aperture in the at least one wall of the enclosure body and having an engagement portion inside the enclosure body, the restraint being connected to the setting member; and 
 a biasing member which biases a portion of the setting member away from the enclosure body and biases the engagement portion of the restraint toward the first side of the enclosure body; and 
 a top plate attached to the at least one wall of the enclosure body, the top plate having a straight front portion adjacent the second side of the enclosure body and comprising a dog post for attachment of the set dog thereto, 
 the trigger engaging and moving a portion of the leg adjacent the second set dog end away from the enclosure body to cause disengagement of the setting member from the latch portion of the set dog when the second end of the trigger is moved an effectual disengagement distance in one of the at least two firing directions, the leg of the set dog extending between the setting member and the enclosure body.